WESTERN WILD SPORTS. 



ri 



intestines is hard like suet, but all the external fat is soft, like 

 that of a breast of mutton, and when put into a bladder is as 

 fine as marrow. In this they differ from all other species of 

 Deer, of which, the external fat is as hard as that of the kidneys* 

 "The female Moose never has any horns; they bring forth 

 their y^iung, ' from one to three in number, in the latter end of 

 April or beginning of May.'t The male Moose often exceeds 

 the largest Horse in size and bulk ; the females are much less 

 than the males and differently colored. The hair of the male is 

 long and soft, like that of the common Deer ; it is black at the 

 tip, but within it is of a common ash color, and at the base pure 

 white. The hair of the female is of a sandy-brown color, and in 

 some places, especially under the throat, belly and flank, is 

 nearly white at tip, and altogether so at base. 



" The skin of the Moose is of great value to the Indians, as 

 it is used for tent covers, clothing, &c. 



" The Moose, like other Deer inhabiting the northern regions, 

 is exceedingly annoyed by insects, which not only feast upon 

 its blood, but deposit their eggs in different parts of its body, 

 along the spine, within the cavities of the nose, mouth, &c. 

 These eggs, when hatched, form large larvae, or maggots, that 

 feed on the parts within which they are placed, until ready to 

 assume their perfect or winged condition, when they perforate 

 the skin and take flight. So great a number of such perfora- 

 tions are made at certain seasons that the skins of the Moose 

 are rendered worthless to the hunter, unless it be for the pur- 

 pose of cutting them into thongs for nets, and other uses."— 

 Goodman' s American Natural History. 



* Hearne. t Ibid. 



